Upgrading a 1200 mk5 Where to start?

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by smartiepants, Jul 9, 2017.

  1. smartiepants

    smartiepants Senior Member Thread Starter

    Probably been discussed a thousand times before but I'm looking at starting to upgrade, currently I have a mint untweaked Technics SL-1200MK5 with AT120E, had both now for about 8 years from new, I have around £500 burning a hole in my pocket
    I was looking at getting an Ortofon 2M Black to replace the AT
    not questioning if that's a good cartridge by the reviews on here its fantastic but would there be a bigger bang for buck upgrade than the cartridge, would it be lost on my stock deck?
    I can do small tweaks like adding another mat, changing the feet over time as they are small upgrades & I don't have the technical ability or confidence to change arms so at the moment I want to stick to the stock parts but getting the max out of them
     
  2. McGruder

    McGruder Eternal Musicphile

    Location:
    Maryland
    Hey, I used to have one of these tables. Here's a thread I posted, I think halfway down the mods are listed. The KAB external PSU is the most important one, along with the toneearm damper. Before investing in the tonearm mods, you might consider a few of the kits for swapping a high quality tonearm...I'd have to search for it. I'm pretty sure Jeff Dorgay experimented with tonearms and wrote a TONE Audio article about it.
     
    smartiepants likes this.
  3. missan

    missan Forum Resident

    Location:
    Stockholm
    Not an entirely new subject. :) Personally the most important, and maybe the only one that is a distinctive improvements; is the fluid damper.
     
    smartiepants likes this.
  4. Classicrock

    Classicrock Senior Member

    Location:
    South West, UK.
    Sell it and buy a GR or G ! (Forget the insanely expensive bearing and platter upgrades such as Mike New).
     
    Wngnt90 and smartiepants like this.
  5. Pieter Kozak

    Pieter Kozak Well-Known Member

    I would reccomended VM540ML

    VM540ML Dual Moving Magnet Cartridge || Audio-Technica US

    Get a rubber mat. What Phono pre amp are you using?

    I have the 1210mkII.. I rega fono preamp.. all sound wonderful. It's up to you though. You could get all this for well under £500. The micro line stylus is superb. Say goodbye to IGD
     
    smartiepants likes this.
  6. smartiepants

    smartiepants Senior Member Thread Starter

    Using a Yaqin ms 12b with JJ Tesla ECC82 & Sovtek 12AX7LPS Tubes, happy with that after swapping the stock valves
     
  7. Pieter Kozak

    Pieter Kozak Well-Known Member

    It's up to you but I would try that micro line stylus. It's a great marriage with the Technics
     
    smartiepants likes this.
  8. smartiepants

    smartiepants Senior Member Thread Starter

    Thank you, I'll have a look, the other was the AT-150 MLX, there are so many choices
     
  9. smartiepants

    smartiepants Senior Member Thread Starter

    I'll look at that damper thanks
     
  10. Pieter Kozak

    Pieter Kozak Well-Known Member

    Yeah the choice is the problem. The MLX is a nice choice but now discontinued, I would go for any AT that has the micro line stylus.
     
  11. smartiepants

    smartiepants Senior Member Thread Starter

    There are a few MLX still about although it's discontinued is it still worth a good shout or has it been replaced, I notice there is an AT 150Sa I take it that's not a micro line
     
  12. Brother_Rael

    Brother_Rael Senior Member

    If you're in the UK, Timestep do a PSU that gets a good write up. This month's Hi Fi World has a good piece on upgrading the new SL1210, so you might get some tips from that. Check out Inspire Hifi in Chesterfield too. They do upgrades for Rega, Linn and others, so maybe worth a glance.
     
    smartiepants likes this.
  13. Classicrock

    Classicrock Senior Member

    Location:
    South West, UK.
    A mk 5 fetches daft money. Sell it and buy a new 1200GR. Difference should be less than the OP's £500.
     
    Hendertuckie likes this.
  14. smartiepants

    smartiepants Senior Member Thread Starter

    I know prices are daft but there is nothing wrong with my mk5 I have had it from new and is mint, just got upgradeitus, would the GR be much of an upgrade bearing in mind by Cart is quite old now and could do with replacing
     
    McLover and Aftermath like this.
  15. Classicrock

    Classicrock Senior Member

    Location:
    South West, UK.
    The new designs certainly sound better but not sure by how much the GR would improve. For roughly same outlay as modding the deck (or less) it is an alternative worth considering. Also I think the Mk5 may be worth more money if kept original especially in mint condition. Whatever way you go factor in a cartridge change but I wouldn't spend on the 2M Black as I think it's way too pricey for a MM and fussy about alignment and record condition. Maybe a Bronze or better AT. I don't know how the new MM range sounds and appears prices have risen in UK without the discounts found on the old range. Maybe just replace the 120 stylus with the latest equivalent if you change the deck? You could also consider a Goldring 1022 or 1024. Now a bit pricey but the 1042 does sound great assuming current production is a good as they used to be.
     
    FramboGND likes this.
  16. smartiepants

    smartiepants Senior Member Thread Starter

    thanks, i'm steering away from the Black, I know its a great cart but due to it being fussy as I have a lot of old vinyl that is not pristine so I think I would get frustrated with it, I will have to stick with a MM due to my phone stage, i'll look into the bronze and the Goldring, there's just too much choice!!!
     
  17. smartiepants

    smartiepants Senior Member Thread Starter

    for the price of the Black I could get
    • KAB fluid damper
    • Funk Firm Achromat
    • OM Bronze/AT150Sa or if I can find one an AT150MLX if I stretch my budget a bit
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2017
    vs_jk likes this.
  18. JustGotPaid

    JustGotPaid Forum Resident

    Denon DL110 is good on that table and arm. Or a Nagaoka MP20 or Dynavector 10x5 ? AT's are lean, avoid.
    Cartridge would be the best first upgrade. Then phono stage.
     
  19. JustGotPaid

    JustGotPaid Forum Resident

    Had the Kab fluid damper and honestly it was a waste of money. Really made no difference. Just drove you insane trying to tell the difference. Make sure you have arubber mat and not a felt DJ one.
     
    Wngnt90 likes this.
  20. smartiepants

    smartiepants Senior Member Thread Starter

    Don't think my Yaqin ms 12b will cope with an MC cart
     
  21. JustGotPaid

    JustGotPaid Forum Resident

    They are high output MC's. So you can use a MM phono stage with them.
     
    smartiepants likes this.
  22. missan

    missan Forum Resident

    Location:
    Stockholm
    Apart from the OM, I agree. That is what I would do.
     
  23. vs_jk

    vs_jk Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    I highly recommend starting with a very cheap ($5-8) but effective mod- heat shrink the tonearm. If your system has any resolving power whatsoever, you will hear significant improvements. Yet another cheap mod is to get a vibrostop platter (around $30 or so) Another mod that I found to be very effective was changing out the main bearing to the IanMac bearing. That mod costs around $175 but very worthwhile. If you do the bearing upgrade, might as well do the $3 KAB thrust plate wax mod. All of these will add up to performance well beyond stock.

    I only have experience with the Denon line of cartridges - DL110, DL160, DL301Mk2, DL103R potted in aluminum body. Out of these, the DL103R potted in an aluminum body is the best.
     
    smartiepants likes this.
  24. Erik Tracy

    Erik Tracy Meet me at the Green Dragon for an ale

    Location:
    San Diego, CA, USA
    OM Bronze.... you mean 2M Bronze?

    I've heard the 2M Bronze - mighty good cartridge. Not that outrageous in price.
     
  25. smartiepants

    smartiepants Senior Member Thread Starter

    yes it was the 2M Bronze, sorry for any confusion, I like the idea of getting it on a plug and play headshell
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2017

Share This Page

molar-endocrine